Wireless communication device mountable on mobile object, monitoring control system of wireless communication device mountable on mobile object, monitoring control method of wireless communication device mountable on mobile object, and remote control center

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication device mounted on a mobile object, the mobile object including: a mobile communication unit that is able to connect to a mobile communication network; and a wireless network connection unit that provides a wireless network connection service based on the mobile communication network connected by the mobile communication unit, the wireless communication device includes: a satellite positioning unit configured to acquire position information on the wireless communication device based on a satellite positioning system; and a control unit configured to control a connection state of the wireless network connection service based on the position information acquired by the satellite positioning unit.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of Chinese Patent Application No. 201410522122.7 filed onSep. 30, 2014 including the specification, drawings and abstract isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wireless communication devicemountable on a mobile object and, more particularly, to a wirelesscommunication device mountable on a mobile object capable of monitoringand controlling whether the wireless communication device is taken outfrom the mobile object for use by the user, a monitoring control systemof a wireless communication device mountable on a mobile object, amonitoring control method of a wireless communication device mountableon a mobile object, and a remote control center.

2. Description of Related Art

Widespread use of the Internet technology makes it possible for more andmore mobile terminals to have the ability to access the mobile Internet.A wireless router that provides a mobile hotspot is commerciallyavailable today. This wireless router sets up a WiFi wireless networkaccess point based on a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, providedby a mobile network operator for access to the Internet, thus providingthe WiFi wireless network access service to the nearby mobile terminals.An example of such a mobile wireless router is a MiFi device. MiFi, aportable device, sets up a WiFi wireless network access service to allowa plurality of nearby mobile terminals to share 3G or 4G mobilecommunication Internet connections. MiFi, originally the trademarkregistered by Novatel Wireless for this type of device, today generallyrefers to a wireless router that acts as this type of mobile hotspot.Today, a smartphone has the mobile hotspot function in many cases togive other nearby mobile terminals an access to the WiFi wirelessnetwork. For example, Apple's iPhone Settings screen has the ‘PersonalHotspot’ function.

With the advent of the smart Telematics system, many car manufacturershave started having some models of their vehicles equipped with awireless communication device, with a similar wireless router function,to start a similar service. This wireless communication device allows anoccupant's mobile terminal to access the wireless Internet and allowsother in-vehicle devices, which require wireless network accessservices, to connect to the Internet by accessing the wireless network.In addition, this wireless communication device enables communicationwith the remote control center of the smart Telematics system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When providing an in-vehicle wireless router, a car manufacturer usuallygives the user a predetermined amount of free Internet work traffic on amonthly basis to support the smart Telematics system. This means thatthere is a possibility that some users will remove and take out thein-vehicle wireless router from the vehicle for enjoying free Internetaccess at home or in other places. With general considerations forsafety and other factors, car manufacturers desire, in general, that thein-vehicle wireless communication device with the wireless routerfunction be used in the vehicle only but not be taken out freely for useoutside the vehicle. However, a conventional wireless communicationdevice cannot monitor and control whether the device is taken out fromthe vehicle for use outside the vehicle.

A wireless communication device according to a first aspect of thepresent invention is a wireless communication device mounted on a mobileobject, the mobile object including: a mobile communication unit that isable to connect to a mobile communication network; and a wirelessnetwork connection unit that provides a wireless network connectionservice based on the mobile communication network connected by themobile communication unit. The wireless communication device includes asatellite positioning unit configured to acquire position information onthe wireless communication device based on a satellite positioningsystem; and a control unit configured to control a connection state ofthe wireless network connection service based on the positioninformation acquired by the satellite positioning unit.

A wireless communication device according to a second aspect of thepresent invention is a wireless communication device mountable on amobile object, the mobile object including: a mobile communication unitthat is able to connect to a mobile communication network; and awireless network connection unit that provides a wireless networkconnection service based on the mobile communication network connectedby the mobile communication unit. The wireless communication deviceincludes a satellite positioning unit configured to acquire positioninformation on the wireless communication device based on a satellitepositioning system; and an information providing unit configured toprovide information corresponding to a determination result to a user,the determination result being determined based on the positioninformation acquired by the satellite positioning unit, thedetermination result indicating whether the wireless communicationdevice is taken out for use outside the mobile object.

A remote control center according to a third aspect of the presentinvention is a remote control center that is able to communicate with awireless communication device mountable on a mobile object. The remotecontrol center includes a receiving unit configured to receive positioninformation on the wireless communication device sent from the wirelesscommunication device; a center-side determination unit configured todetermine whether the wireless communication device is used outside themobile object based on the position information on the wirelesscommunication device received by the receiving unit; and a sending unitconfigured to send a signal according to a determination result of thecenter-side determination unit to the wireless communication device.

A monitoring control system for a wireless communication deviceaccording to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a monitoringcontrol system for a wireless communication device mountable on a mobileobject, the mobile object including: a mobile communication unit that isable to connect to a mobile communication network; and a wirelessnetwork connection unit that provides a wireless network connectionservice based on the mobile communication network connected by themobile communication unit. The monitoring control system includes asatellite positioning unit configured to acquire position information onthe wireless communication device based on a satellite positioningsystem; and a determination unit configured to determine whether thewireless communication device is taken out for use outside the mobileobject based on the position information acquired by the satellitepositioning unit.

A monitoring control method for a wireless communication deviceaccording to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a monitoringcontrol method for a wireless communication device mountable on a mobileobject. The monitoring control method includes a position informationacquisition step for acquiring position information on the wirelesscommunication device; and a determination step for determining whetherthe wireless communication device is taken out for use outside themobile object based on the acquired position information.

In the aspects described above, the present invention provides asatellite positioning module on a wireless communication devicemountable on a mobile object and, based on the position informationacquired by the satellite positioning unit, determines whether thewireless communication device mountable on the mobile object is takenout for use outside the vehicle, thus achieving monitoring control.

In addition, when it is determined that the wireless communicationdevice mountable on a mobile object is taken out for use outside thevehicle, a countermeasure action pre-set by a car manufacture, forexample, an action to reduce the communication speed or to inhibit theprovision of the wireless network connection service, can be taken toprevent the user from improperly using the wireless communication devicemountable on the mobile object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance ofexemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denotelike elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a wireless communication devicemountable on a mobile object according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a third embodiment;

FIG. 5A is a flowchart showing a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 5B is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 6B is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. 6A; and

FIG. 7 is a general diagram showing a sixth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a wireless communication devicemountable on a mobile object according to the present invention. Awireless communication device 10 according to the present invention,which may be configured as an in-vehicle WiFi box, includes a powersupply unit 11, a mobile communication module 12 that is an example of amobile communication unit, a WiFi module 13 that is an example of awireless network connection unit, an SIM slot 14, a LED indicator 15,and a GPS module 16 that is an example of a satellite positioning unit.

The power supply unit 11 receives an external power provided fromoutside the wireless communication device 10 and distributes thereceived power. For example, the power supply unit 11 distributes thepower to the mobile communication module 12 and the WiFi module 13 ofthe wireless communication device 10. A vehicle battery 5 is theexternal power of the wireless communication device 10. When the vehicleACC power is turned on, the vehicle battery 5 starts supplying power tothe wireless communication device 10 and the wireless communicationdevice 10 starts the operation.

The mobile communication module 12 provides the mobile communicationnetwork access service to allow mobile communication with a remotecontrol center 2, or to allow access to the Internet, via a mobilecommunication antenna 8. The mobile communication module 12 isconfigured based on the mobile communication technology or the wirelesscommunication technology such as 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE), CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM), or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). Although the mobilecommunication module 12 shown in FIG. 1 includes a Central ProcessingUnit (CPU) 17, the CPU 17 need not necessarily be included in the mobilecommunication module 12 but may be provided outside the mobilecommunication module 12.

The WiFi module 13 provides the WiFi wireless network access servicethat covers the vehicle interior, based on the mobile communicationnetwork provided by the mobile communication module 12. That is, thewireless communication device in this embodiment has the function of awireless router device. The WiFi module 13 and a mobile terminal 4,which is used by an occupant of the vehicle, carry out WiFicommunication via a WiFi antenna 6. The mobile terminal 4 is, forexample, a smartphone or a tablet PC. Although FIG. 1, a general blockdiagram, shows only one mobile terminal 4, there may be a plurality ofmobile terminals 4 in an actual environment. In addition, the WiFimodule 13 can carry out the WiFi communication not only with the mobileterminal 4 but also with other in-vehicle devices, which require thewireless network access service, via the WiFi antenna 6. An example ofother in-vehicle devices that require the wireless network accessservice is a navigation device 3 of the vehicle. The other in-vehicledevices are not limited to the navigation device 3 but include a device,such as an in-vehicle multimedia system, that requires the wirelessnetwork access service. The WiFi module 13 shown in FIG. 1, composed ofa collection of Bluetooth modules (not shown), can carry out theBluetooth communication with the navigation device 3 via a Bluetoothantenna 7. That is, the navigation device 3 can carries outcommunication with the navigation device 3 in one of the twocommunication modes: WiFi communication for a relatively large amount ofdata (for example, download or update of a map) and Bluetoothcommunication for a relatively small amount of data (for example, voicedata). It should be noted that, in the present invention, the Bluetoothmodules are neither essential nor necessarily collected in the WiFimodule 13.

WiFi, also spelled Wi-Fi or Wifi, is defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance asany wireless local area network product based on the Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards. FIG. 1exemplarily shows the WiFi module 13 that provides the WiFi wirelessnetwork access service, but the present invention is not limited to thismodule. The WiFi module 13 may be replaced by any other wireless networkaccess module that provides an equivalent wireless network accessservice. For example, the WiFi module 13 may be replaced by the WAPImodule that provides the WAPI wireless network access service. WLANAuthentication and Privacy Infrastructure (WAPI) is a Chinese NationalStandard for a wireless local area network. There is no limit on thenumber of types of wireless network access modules included in thewireless communication device 10. This means that a plurality of typesof wireless network access modules may be included at the same time inthe wireless communication device 10 to allow a plurality of types ofwireless network access services to be provided. For example, onewireless communication device 10 may provide WiFi and WAPI wirelessnetwork access services at the same time.

The SIM slot 14 is a slot into which a SIM card, provided by a mobilenetwork operator, is inserted. The LED indicator 15 indicates theoperation state of the wireless communication device 10.

The GPS module 16 in the wireless communication device 10 acquires theposition information on the wireless communication device 10 based on aGPS satellite positioning system 1 via a GPS antenna 9. When thewireless communication device 10 is located in the vehicle, the positioninformation on the wireless communication device 10 acquired by the GPSmodule 16 corresponds basically to the vehicle's position information.When the wireless communication device 10 is taken out from the vehicle,the position information on the wireless communication device 10acquired by the GPS module 16 does not correspond to the vehicle'sposition information. It is therefore desirable that the GPS module 16in the wireless communication device 10 not be a module for vehiclenavigation but be a module only for acquiring the position informationon the wireless communication device 10 so that, based on this positioninformation, it can be monitored and controlled whether the wirelesscommunication device 10 is taken out from the vehicle. In other words,it is desirable that the GPS module 16 in the wireless communicationdevice 10 be different from the GPS module (not shown) for use by thenavigation device 3 of the vehicle. In other words, it is desirable thatthe navigation device 3 have its own GPS module (not described) fornavigation.

The present invention may be based on any satellite positioning system.In the world, there are four major satellite-positioning systems—GPS(Global Positioning System) of USA, Galileo of European Community,GLONASS (GLObal NAvigation Satellite System) of Russia, and BDS (BeiDouNavigation Satellite System) of China. Although FIG. 1 exemplarily showsthe GPS module 16 and the GPS satellite positioning system 1, thepresent invention is not limited to this combination of a module and asatellite positioning system. The implementation of the presentinvention does not depend on the type of a particular satellitepositioning system.

The remote control center 2 is a remote control center such as theG-Book system of Toyota Motor Corporation and the OnStar system ofGeneral Motors. The mobile communication (4G LTE, CDMA, GSM, GPRS,etc.,) between a vehicle and the remote control center provides variousservices such as Navigation, theft prevention and vehicle tracking.

Although the mobile communication module 12, which is an example of themobile communication unit, and the GPS module 16, which is an example ofthe satellite positioning unit, are exemplified as separate modules inthis embodiment, the present invention is not limited to thisconfiguration. For example, the part for connecting to the mobilecommunication network and the part for performing the function toacquire the position information based on the satellite positioningsystem may be implemented on one chip as a shared-memory structure inwhich the common memory is shared. In such a case, there is also a meritthat the software program can be designed relatively easily.

The following describes the flow of the present invention with referenceto the drawings. In the flow, the wireless communication device 10 ismonitored and controlled based on the position information acquired bythe GPS module 16.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2,when the external power of the wireless communication device 10 is ON,the wireless communication device 10 regularly uploads (for example,once every six seconds) the position information, acquired by the GPSmodule 16, and the time information, related to the positioninformation, to the remote control center 2 (step S100). In response,the remote control center 2 regularly acquires (for example, once everysix seconds) the position information and the related time informationuploaded by the wireless communication device 10 (step S102). The remotecontrol center 2 calculates the average moving speed of the wirelesscommunication device 10 from the plurality of pieces of acquiredposition information and time information (step S104). For example, theremote control center 2 calculates the average moving speed once eachtime two pieces of position information are received. The remote controlcenter 2 determines whether the calculated average moving speed isoutside the range of the reference average moving speed (step S106). Ifit is determined that the calculated average moving speed is outside therange of the reference average moving speed (step S106: YES), the remotecontrol center 2 determines that the wireless communication device 10 istaken out for use outside the vehicle. In this case, the remote controlcenter 2 outputs an instruction to the wireless communication device 10to reduce the WiFi communication speed. This instruction prevents theuser from improperly using the wireless communication device 10 (step:S108). After receiving this instruction, the wireless communicationdevice 10 reduces the WiFi communication speed (step S110). Conversely,if it is determined that the calculated average moving speed is withinthe range of the reference average moving speed (step S106: NO), theremote control center 2 determines that the wireless communicationdevice 10 is used in the vehicle, that is, the wireless communicationdevice 10 is used properly.

The principle of the determination condition in the first embodimentshown in FIG. 2 is as follows. Usually, the vehicle speed is within areasonable reference range (for example, 120 km/h or lower). When thewireless communication device 10 is used in the vehicle, its movingspeed is considered the same as the vehicle speed. Therefore, thecalculated average moving speed is considered within this referencerange. Conversely, when the calculated average moving speed is 250 km/hthat is outside the reference range, there is a possibility that thewireless communication device 10 is taken out from the vehicle by theuser and is used while traveling on a public transport system such as ahigh-speed railway.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the determination condition iswhether the calculated average moving speed is outside the range of thereference average moving speed. There is a modified embodiment of thedetermination condition of this embodiment. That is, in the modifiedembodiment, the determination condition is whether the calculated movingdistance in a predetermined period of the wireless communication device10 is outside the range of the reference moving distance. The modifiedembodiment that is based on the moving distance in a predeterminedperiod is essentially equivalent to the first embodiment that is basedon the average moving speed. This is because, when the average movingspeed is within the range of the reference moving speed, the movingdistance in a predetermined period is also considered within the rangeof the corresponding reference moving distance.

In addition, the first embodiment includes the following situation. Thatis, if the calculated average moving speed of the wireless communicationdevice 10 remains zero for a predetermined period of time, morespecifically, if the wireless communication device 10 is not inoperation for a predetermined period of time and is in the stationarystate but if the ON state of the external power continues and theposition information and the time information are regularly uploaded,there is a possibility that the user, who once stopped the vehicle, hasbeen using the WiFi Internet in the vehicle with the ACC power in thevehicle turned on. Generally speaking, however, it is thought that theuser does not use the Internet continuously in a stationary vehicle fora very long time (for example, two days or longer). Therefore, if thestate, in which the calculated average moving speed of the wirelesscommunication device 10 remains zero, lasts longer than a predeterminedperiod of time (for example, two days), it is probable that the user hastaken out the wireless communication device 10 for use at home. That is,the determination condition is satisfied in the first embodiment (or inthe modified embodiment of the first embodiment) also if it isdetermined that the wireless communication device 10 is taken out foruse outside the vehicle when the period of time during which thedetermination condition is satisfied reaches a predetermined time.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3,when the external power of the wireless communication device 10 is ON,the wireless communication device 10 regularly uploads (for example,once every six seconds) the position information, acquired by the GPSmodule 16, and the time information, related to the positioninformation, to the remote control center 2 (step S200). In response,the remote control center 2 regularly acquires (for example, once everysix seconds) the position information and the related time informationuploaded by the wireless communication device 10 (step S202). The remotecontrol center 2 can detect whether the external power of the wirelesscommunication device 10 is turned off for a predetermined period of timeand then turned on again, based on the plurality of pieces of acquiredposition information and time information. For example, if the externalpower of the wireless communication device 10 is continuously ON, theremote control center 2 regularly acquires (for example, once every sixseconds) the position information on the wireless communication device10 and the related time information (P0, t0), (P1, t1), . . . , (Pm,tm). In this case, the time interval between the neighboring data pointsis six seconds. On the other hand, if data is interrupted (that is, datais not received from the wireless communication device 10) for apredetermined period of time (longer than six seconds, for example, 30minutes) after the data point (Pm, tm) and, after that, the remotecontrol center can continuously and regularly acquire (for example, onceevery six seconds) the position information on the wirelesscommunication device 10 and the related time information (Pn, tn),(Pn+1, tn+1), (Pn+2, tn+2), . . . again, the remote control center 2 canestimate that, in this 30 minutes, the external power of the wirelesscommunication device 10 is first turned off and then turned on again. Inthis case, based on the last position information acquired by the GPSmodule 16 when the external power of the wireless communication device10 is turned off and the position information acquired by the GPS module16 when the external power of the wireless communication device 10 isturned on next, the remote control center 2 calculates the distancebetween the two (step: S204). The remote control center 2 determineswhether the calculated distance between the two is outside the range ofthe reference distance (step S206). If it is determined that thecalculated distance is outside the range of the reference distance (stepS206: YES), the remote control center 2 determines that the wirelesscommunication device 10 is taken out for use outside the vehicle. Inthis case, the remote control center 2 sends an instruction to thewireless communication device 10 to reduce the WiFi communication speed.This instruction prevents the user from improperly using the wirelesscommunication device 10 (step: S208). After receiving this instruction,the wireless communication device 10 reduces the WiFi communicationspeed (step S210). Conversely, if it is determined that the calculateddistance is within the range of the reference distance (step S206: NO),the remote control center 2 determines that the wireless communicationdevice 10 is used in the vehicle, that is, the wireless communicationdevice 10 is used properly.

The principle of the determination condition in the second embodimentshown in FIG. 3 is as follows. If the wireless communication device 10is used in the vehicle, the OFF state of the external power of thewireless communication device 10 usually corresponds to the OFF state ofthe ACC power of the vehicle. Similarly, the ON state of the externalpower of the wireless communication device 10 usually corresponds to theON state of the ACC power of the vehicle. From the time the ACC power isturned off to the time the ACC power is turned on again, the vehicle is,in general, placed in the stationary state and the positions at the twotimes, turn-off time and turn-on time, are supposed to overlap with eachother (in a special case, the distance between the vehicle's positionsis within a reasonable range of the reference distance, for example,within the range of several meters). Therefore, if the wirelesscommunication device 10 is used in the vehicle, the calculated distancebetween the position of the wireless communication device 10 when theexternal power is turned off and the position of the wirelesscommunication device 10 when the external power is turned on next isconsidered within the range of the reference distance. Conversely, ifthe wireless communication device 10 is removed from the vehicle (inthis case, the external power is turned off), is taken out for use athome (or other place), and is used by connecting it again to theexternal power at home (at this time, the supply of the external poweris resumed), the distance between the positions indicated by theposition information acquired by the GPS module 16 at these twodifferent times is considered corresponding to the distance between theposition of the vehicle when the wireless communication device 10 isremoved and the position of the home (for example, several hundredmeters). This distance exceeds a reasonable range of the referencedistance.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4,when the external power of the wireless communication device 10 is ON,the wireless communication device 10 regularly uploads (for example,once every six seconds) the position information, acquired by the GPSmodule 16, and the time information, related to the positioninformation, to the remote control center 2 (step S300). In response,the remote control center 2 regularly acquires (for example, once everysix seconds) the position information and the related time informationuploaded by the wireless communication device 10 (step S302). The remotecontrol center 2 counts the number of times or the frequency with whichthe GPS module 16 has failed to acquire the position information (thatis, the GPS module 16 cannot measure the position information) that isindicated by the position information uploaded by the wirelesscommunication device 10 (step S304). This determination condition isbased on the premise that, though the GPS module 16 has failed toacquire the position information, the wireless communication device isconnected to the mobile communication network by the mobilecommunication module 12 and the communication between the wirelesscommunication device and the remote control center is established. Thatis, the wireless communication device 10 can notify the remote controlcenter 2 that the position information, usually measured by the GPSmodule 16, cannot be acquired in the current operation. Instead, thewireless communication device 10 can notify the remote control center 2about a base station ID. In this case, the remote control center canacquire brief position information on the mobile communication module 12based on this base station ID using the base station positioningtechnology (usually, the accuracy of this position information is lowerthan that of the position information acquired by the GPS module 16). Inthis case, the brief position information (brief position informationacquired using the base station positioning technology of the mobilecommunication module 12), though available, is not the positioninformation acquired through measurement by the GPS module 16.Therefore, it is considered that the GPS module 16 has failed to acquirethe position information. The remote control center 2 determines whetherthe counted number of times or frequency, with which the GPS module 16has failed to acquire the position information, is outside the range ofthe reference number of times or the reference frequency (step S306). Ifit is determined that the counted number of times or frequency, withwhich the GPS module 16 has failed to acquire the position information,is outside the range of the reference number of times or the referencefrequency (step S306: YES), the remote control center 2 determines thatthe wireless communication device 10 is taken out for use outside thevehicle. In this case, the remote control center 2 sends an instructionto the wireless communication device 10 to reduce the WiFi communicationspeed. This instruction prevents the user from improperly using thewireless communication device 10 (step: S308). After receiving thisinstruction, the wireless communication device 10 reduces the WiFicommunication speed (step S310). Conversely, if it is determined thatthe counted number of times or frequency, with which the GPS module 16has failed to acquire the position information, is within the range ofthe reference number of times or the reference frequency (step S306:NO), the remote control center 2 determines that the wirelesscommunication device 10 is used in the vehicle, that is, the wirelesscommunication device 10 is used properly.

The principle of the determination condition in the third embodimentshown in FIG. 4 is as follows. While the user is using the wirelesscommunication device 10 in the vehicle properly, it sometimes occursthat, in a particular situation (for example, the vehicle enters atunnel or an underground car park), the GPS signal is interrupted butthe mobile communication is active. The number of times or the frequencywith which the GPS position information cannot be measured in such acase is considered within the range of a reasonable reference number oftimes or frequency. For example, the travel time in a tunnel is shortand, when the vehicle comes out of the tunnel, the GPS signal isrecovered immediately. On the other hand, when the user takes out thewireless communication device 10 and uses it at home with the externalpower on, the GPS signal in the room remains interrupted (usually, theGPS signal in the room is not detected or very weak, while the mobilecommunication signal in the room is better than the GPS signal. That is,the mobile communication signal in the room is not interrupted).Therefore, the number of times or the frequency, with which the GPSmodule 16 has failed to acquire the position information, far exceedsthe range of the reference number of time or frequency described above.Therefore, in such a case, it can be determined that the user has takenout the wireless communication device 10 for use outside the vehicle.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a flowchart showing a fourth embodiment. Thefourth embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, uses a determinationcondition that is a combination of the condition in the first embodimentand the condition in the second embodiment. That is, the remote controlcenter 2 calculates the average moving speed from a plurality of piecesof position information and time information in step S404 as shown inFIG. 5A. After that, based on the position information on the wirelesscommunication device 10 when the external power is turned off and theposition information on the wireless communication device 10 when theexternal power is turned on next, the remote control center 2 calculatesthe distance between the two positions. In the fourth embodiment, theremote control center 2 must determine whether the combination of thecondition in the first embodiment and the condition in the secondembodiment is satisfied (that is, both conditions must be satisfied).That is, the remote control center 2 determines whether the calculatedaverage moving speed is outside the range of the reference averagemoving speed and whether the calculated distance is outside the range ofthe reference distance (step S406) as shown in FIG. 5B. The other stepsin the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are similar to thosein the first and second embodiments and, therefore, their description isomitted.

The principle of the determination condition in the fourth embodiment,shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, is as follows. Using the combination of thecondition in the first embodiment and the condition in the secondembodiment as the determination condition increases determinationaccuracy and reduces determination mistakes.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a flowchart showing a fifth embodiment. Thefifth embodiment, shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, uses a determinationcondition that is a combination of the condition in the firstembodiment, the condition in the second embodiment, and the condition inthe third embodiment. That is, the remote control center 2 calculatesthe average moving speed from a plurality of pieces of positioninformation and time information in step S504 as shown in FIG. 6A. Afterthat, based on the position information on the wireless communicationdevice 10 when the external power is turned off and the positioninformation on the wireless communication device 10 when the externalpower is turned on next, the remote control center 2 calculates thedistance between the two positions. After that, the remote controlcenter 2 counts the number of times or frequency with which the GPSposition information could not be measured. In the fifth embodiment, theremote control center 2 must determine whether the combination of thecondition in the first embodiment, the condition in the secondembodiment, and the condition in the third embodiment is satisfied (thatis, all tree conditions must be satisfied). That is, the remote controlcenter 2 determines whether the calculated average moving speed isoutside the range of the reference average moving speed, whether thecalculated distance is outside the range of the reference distance, andwhether the number of times or frequency, with which the GPS positioninformation could not be measured, is outside the range of the referencenumber of times or the reference frequency (step S506) as shown in FIG.6B. The other steps in the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B aresimilar to those in the first, second, and third embodiments and,therefore, their description is omitted.

The principle of the determination condition in the fifth embodiment,shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, is as follows. Using the combination of thecondition in the first embodiment, the condition in the secondembodiment, and the condition in the third embodiment as thedetermination condition increases determination accuracy and reducesdetermination mistakes.

FIG. 7 is a general diagram showing a sixth embodiment. According to thesixth embodiment, the remote control center 2 can determine whether thewireless communication device 10 is taken out for use outside thevehicle based on whether the position information on the wirelesscommunication device 10 indicates a location where the vehicle cannotusually reach. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, if the positioninformation on the wireless communication device 10 indicates that thewireless communication device 10 is at a particular position such as alake or a sea, there is a possibility that the wireless communicationdevice 10 is taken out for use on board. This is because a car does notusually appear in such a particular position.

The embodiments described above are preferred embodiments of the presentinvention but do not limit the present invention. For example, thecombination of the conditions of the first to third embodiments is notlimited to the combinations described in the fourth embodiment and thefifth embodiments but these conditions can be combined also with thecondition of the sixth embodiment. Satisfying a condition may refer to asituation in which the condition is satisfied for a predetermined time.When a plurality of conditions is combined, the order in which theconditions are satisfied need not be determined. It is apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the conditions in the above embodiments areexemplary only.

The instruction issued in the above embodiments to reduce the WiFicommunication speed is also exemplary only. For example, the instructionmay be changed or modified to an instruction that inhibits the WiFiservice.

Although the regular uploading of the position information and therelated time information is described by way of example in the aboveembodiments, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that theuploaded data need not necessarily include the related time information.This is because the remote control center 2, which receives the time ofthe position information, can determine the related time information.

In addition, though the above embodiments describe, by way of example,that the remote control center 2 determines whether the wirelesscommunication device 10 is taken out for use outside the vehicle, thepresent invention is not limited to this type of determination. Instead,without intervention from the remote control center 2, the wirelesscommunication device 10 itself can determine whether the wirelesscommunication device 10 is taken out for use outside the vehicle. Inthis case, the wireless communication device further includes awireless-communication-device-side database and awireless-communication-device-side determination unit. Thewireless-communication-device-side database stores the positioninformation that is acquired by the GPS module and the time informationthat indicates the time at which the position information is acquired.The wireless-communication-device-side determination unit determineswhether this wireless communication device is taken out for use outsidethe vehicle, based on the position information and the time informationstored in the database. The wireless communication device in this caseis configured to determine that the wireless communication device istaken out for use outside the vehicle if any of the determinationconditions described in the first embodiment to the sixth embodiment issatisfied. This simple configuration, configured simply by the wirelesscommunication device, can monitor and control whether the wirelesscommunication device is taken out for use outside the vehicle.

Although the above embodiments describe by way of example that thewireless communication device 10 controls the connection state of thewireless network connection service, provided by the wirelesscommunication device according to the present invention, based on thedetermination result of the center-side determination unit or thewireless-communication-device-side determination unit, the presentinvention is not limited to this configuration. Instead of controllingthe connection state of the wireless network connection service, it isalso possible to provide the user with the information that is output byone of the determination units described above and that notifies thedetermination result indicating whether the wireless communicationdevice is taken out from the mobile object.

In this case, the wireless communication device includes a warning lampand a lighting control unit. The warning lamp works as an informationproviding unit that provides information to the user. The lightingcontrol unit controls the lighting of the warning lamp when one of thedetermination units described above determines that the wirelesscommunication device is taken out for use outside the mobile object. Thelighting control unit may be executed as one of the functions of the CPUin the mobile communication module or may be provided as a separateunit. For example, the lighting control unit is configured to controlthe lighting of the lamp in such a manner that the single-color lampremains on if it is not determined that the wireless communicationdevice is taken out for use outside the mobile object and that the lampblinks if it is determined that the wireless communication device istaken out for use outside the mobile object. This alerts the user torefrain from taking out the wireless communication device for useoutside the vehicle.

The warning lamp may be integrated into the LED indicator 15 of thewireless communication device 10. In addition, the information providingunit is not limited to a warning lamp. For example, if the center-sidedetermination unit determines that the wireless communication device istaken out for use outside the mobile object, it is also possible toreference the user information registered in advance and to send analert directly from the remote control center to the user via phone ormail.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various modificationsand changes may be added to the embodiments of the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the presentinvention. Therefore, the changes and modifications included in thescope of the present invention restricted by claims are all included inthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless communication device mounted on amobile object, the mobile object including: a mobile communication unitthat is able to connect to a mobile communication network; and awireless network connection unit that provides a wireless networkconnection service based on the mobile communication network connectedby the mobile communication unit, the wireless communication devicecomprising: a satellite positioning unit configured to acquire positioninformation on the wireless communication device based on a satellitepositioning system; and a control unit configured to control aconnection state of the wireless network connection service based on theposition information acquired by the satellite positioning unit.
 2. Thewireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the controlunit controls the connection state of the wireless network connectionservice based on a determination result as to whether the wirelesscommunication device is taken out for use outside the mobile objectbased on the position information acquired by the satellite positioningunit.
 3. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, whereinif it is determined that the wireless communication device is taken outfor use outside the mobile object based on the position informationacquired by the satellite positioning unit, the control unit reduces theconnection state of the wireless network connection service as comparedto a case in which it is not determined that the wireless communicationdevice is taken out for use outside the mobile object.
 4. The wirelesscommunication device according to claim 3, wherein the connection stateof the wireless network connection service is reduced by reducing astate of connection to the mobile communication network.
 5. The wirelesscommunication device according to claim 4, wherein the state ofconnection to the mobile communication network is reduced either byreducing a communication speed of the mobile communication network or bystopping the connection to the mobile communication network.
 6. Thewireless communication device according to claim 3, wherein theconnection state of the wireless network connection service is reducedeither by reducing a strength of a radio signal issued by the wirelessnetwork connection unit or by stopping the issuance of the wave signal.7. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein if atleast one of following conditions is satisfied, it is determined thatthe wireless communication device is taken out for use outside themobile object; condition a) if an average moving speed of the wirelesscommunication device is outside a range of a reference average movingspeed, the average moving speed being calculated based on a plurality ofpieces of position information acquired by the satellite positioningunit and a plurality of pieces of related time information; condition b)if a moving distance in a predetermined period of the wirelesscommunication device is outside a range of a reference moving distance,the moving distance being calculated based on a plurality of pieces ofposition information acquired by the satellite positioning unit and aplurality of pieces of related time information; condition c) if astate, in which the average moving speed of the wireless communicationdevice is outside the range of the reference average moving speed,continues for a time equal to or longer than a predetermined time, theaverage moving speed being calculated based on a plurality of pieces ofposition information acquired by the satellite positioning unit and aplurality of pieces of related time information; condition d) if adistance between a first position and a second position is outside arange of a reference distance, the first position being calculated basedon last position information acquired by the satellite positioning unitwhen an external power of the wireless communication device is turnedoff, the second position being calculated based on position informationacquired by the satellite positioning unit when the external power ofthe wireless communication device is turned on next; condition e) if anumber of times the satellite positioning unit has failed to acquireposition information is outside a range of a reference number of times;condition f) if a frequency the satellite positioning unit has failed toacquire position information is outside a range of a referencefrequency; and condition g) if position information acquired by thesatellite positioning unit indicates an area where a vehicle cannottravel.
 8. The wireless communication device according to claim 1,wherein the wireless communication device sends the position informationon the wireless communication device to a remote control center via themobile communication unit, the position information being acquired bythe satellite positioning unit, the remote control center comprises areceiving unit that receives position information on the wirelesscommunication device sent from the wireless communication device; acenter-side determination unit that determines whether the wirelesscommunication device is used outside the mobile object based on theposition information on the wireless communication device received bythe receiving unit; and a sending unit that sends a signal,corresponding to a determination result of the center-side determinationunit, to the wireless communication device, and the control unitcontrols the connection state of the wireless network connection servicebased on the signal, corresponding to the determination result, sentfrom the remote control center.
 9. The wireless communication deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising: awireless-communication-device-side storage unit that is arranged in thewireless communication device to store position information acquired bythe satellite positioning unit and time information indicating a time atwhich the position information is acquired; and awireless-communication-device-side determination unit that is arrangedin the wireless communication device to determine whether the wirelesscommunication device is used outside the mobile object based on theposition information and the time information stored in the storageunit, wherein the control unit controls the connection state of thewireless network connection service based on the determination result ofthe wireless-communication-device-side determination unit.
 10. Awireless communication device mountable on a mobile object, the mobileobject including: a mobile communication unit that is able to connect toa mobile communication network; and a wireless network connection unitthat provides a wireless network connection service based on the mobilecommunication network connected by the mobile communication unit, thewireless communication device comprising: a satellite positioning unitconfigured to acquire position information on the wireless communicationdevice based on a satellite positioning system; and an informationproviding unit configured to provide information corresponding to adetermination result to a user, the determination result beingdetermined based on the position information acquired by the satellitepositioning unit, the determination result indicating whether thewireless communication device is taken out for use outside the mobileobject.
 11. A remote control center that is able to communicate with awireless communication device mountable on a mobile object, the remotecontrol center comprising: a receiving unit configured to receiveposition information on the wireless communication device sent from thewireless communication device; a center-side determination unitconfigured to determine whether the wireless communication device isused outside the mobile object based on the position information on thewireless communication device received by the receiving unit; and asending unit configured to send a signal according to a determinationresult of the center-side determination unit to the wirelesscommunication device.
 12. A monitoring control system for a wirelesscommunication device mountable on a mobile object, the mobile objectincluding: a mobile communication unit that is able to connect to amobile communication network; and a wireless network connection unitthat provides a wireless network connection service based on the mobilecommunication network connected by the mobile communication unit, themonitoring control system comprising: a satellite positioning unitconfigured to acquire position information on the wireless communicationdevice based on a satellite positioning system; and a determination unitconfigured to determine whether the wireless communication device istaken out for use outside the mobile object based on the positioninformation acquired by the satellite positioning unit.
 13. Themonitoring control system according to claim 12, further comprising acontrol unit configured to control a connection state of the wirelessnetwork connection service based on a determination result, thedetermination result being determined by the determination unit, thedetermination result indicating whether the wireless communicationdevice is taken out for use outside the mobile object.
 14. Themonitoring control system according to claim 12, wherein the wirelesscommunication device sends the position information on the wirelesscommunication device to a remote control center via the mobilecommunication unit, the position information being acquired by thesatellite positioning unit, and the remote control center comprises areceiving unit that receives the position information on the wirelesscommunication device sent from the wireless communication device; acenter-side determination unit that determines whether the wirelesscommunication device is used outside the mobile object based on theposition information on the wireless communication device received bythe receiving unit; and a sending unit that sends a signal according toa determination result of the center-side determination unit to thewireless communication device.
 15. The monitoring control systemaccording to claim 12, wherein the wireless communication devicecomprises a wireless-communication-device-side storage unit that storesthe position information acquired by the satellite positioning unit andtime information indicating a time at which the position information isacquired; and a wireless-communication-device-side determination unitthat determines whether the wireless communication device is usedoutside the mobile object based on the position information and the timeinformation stored in the wireless-communication-device-side storageunit.
 16. The monitoring control system according to claim 12, furthercomprising: an information providing unit configured to provideinformation corresponding to a determination result to a user, thedetermination result being determined by the determination unit, thedetermination result indicating whether the wireless communicationdevice is taken out for use outside the mobile object.
 17. A monitoringcontrol method for a wireless communication device mountable on a mobileobject, the monitoring control method comprising: a position informationacquisition step for acquiring position information on the wirelesscommunication device; and a determination step for determining whetherthe wireless communication device is taken out for use outside themobile object based on the acquired position information.
 18. Themonitoring control method according to claim 17, further comprising acontrol step for controlling a connection state of a wireless networkconnection service provided by the wireless communication device basedon a determination result, the determination result being determined bythe determination step, the determination result indicating whether thewireless communication device is taken out for use outside the mobileobject.
 19. The monitoring control method according to claim 17, whereinthe position information acquisition step includes a positioninformation sending step for sending the position information on thewireless communication device from the wireless communication device toa remote control center, the position information being acquired by theposition information acquisition step, and the determination stepincludes a receiving step for receiving, by the remote control center,the position information on the wireless communication device sent fromthe wireless communication device in the sending step; a center-sidedetermination step for determining, by the remote control center,whether the wireless communication device is used outside the mobileobject based on the position information on the wireless communicationdevice received in the receiving step; and a determination resultsending step for sending a signal according to a determination result ofthe center-side determination step from the remote control center to thewireless communication device.
 20. The monitoring control methodaccording to claim 17, wherein the determination step is awireless-communication-device-side determination step for determining,by the wireless communication device, whether the wireless communicationdevice is used outside the mobile object based on the positioninformation acquired by the satellite positioning unit and timeinformation on a time at which the position information is acquired. 21.The monitoring control method according to claim 17, further comprisingan information providing step for providing information corresponding toa determination result to a user, the determination result beingdetermined by the determination step, the determination resultindicating whether the wireless communication device is taken out foruse outside the mobile object.